Best Enemies

(Photos: Dirrty Frank, which one to chose?)

Loss of Confidence

The (ex-) Mayor of Moscow, Yuri Luzhkov, was dismissed today by President Medvedev (some say by SMS as Dmitry is currently in China) for a very strange official reason: loss of confidence. Can somebody explain to me how that guy, who was the incarnation of bad governing, estate bribery, business manipulator, city destroyer, could have been reelected during 20 years by people that apparently hated him so much (I did my little survey today)? Another lack of sense coming from Russia. Just another one.

On the Go

Don't blink, my friends. This visual may disappear in less than 20 seconds. A bit of explanation needs to be added to that teaser introduction.

I don't know why but, in any restaurant in Moscow, as soon as you finished your plate or your glass (even before unfortunately), the waiter is coming to your table and is removing the stuff without any notice. We're far from the Latin habit to appreciate your nice dinner by still having a look to your plate at the end or making a pause to please your taste until the final drop. Well, if you come to Moscow, finish in one shot or make it clear that you have not finished.

Or you'll have to fight to recuperate your food.

(Photo: Dirrty Frank, still hungry for more)

Game is a Business

I don't want to talk here about bookmakers or bets (that would be the subject for another article). It's just that Russian people often use their skills, whatever they are, to make business out of them. And when you're good at chess, no big deal, you propose a game for 50 RUR. Hope this guy is not a sublime genious and you can play more than 30''. Or perhaps, he would have the pity to leave your King alive for 5 minutes at least. Just to have a feeling of a good deal.

(Photo: Dirrty Frank, on Nikitsky Boulevard, trying to earn money with PPT presentations)

Bigger Than Life

We know that advertisers love big formats for outdoors in Russia. We have the bigger brandmauers in the world. We know as well that big screens are flourishing in the city, transforming the capital in a new Las Vegas. So, why not to think bigger and mix it all.

Viral Fruit

Since few days, Moscow is flooded with illegal pears, some stickers that you can see everywhere in the city, even distributed outside the metro. Nobody knows what it is about. We may see there a guerilla operation from Apple to prevent piracy on their devices. Actually, I understand. One of our iPhones that we cracked opens showing a pineapple. Russian hackers are so inventive and romantic.

(Photos: Dirrty Frank, always up for a vodka-apple)

Russia's Got Talent

Unfortunately, they don't have screen writers. Anyway, the result is really impressive for a rookie.

Transformers from repey815 on Vimeo.

Bad Lieutenant

This policeman is reading a book tittled 'I'm a thief' in the Moscow metro. He was never so right about his behaviour - at least most of his colleagues'.

(Photo: Julia and Runet, looking for outlaws everywhere)

Rubber Valley

We know all the efforts of Medvedev to develop hi-tech industry in Moscow. Today, an entrepreneur is presenting to him the first Russian smartphone. The stuff is so horrible that some people could not resist to make a joke. Here it is, long live the Russian Silicon Valley.

Born to be Alive

Laundry Service

We all know that Chinese community is the best-in-class laundry specialists in the world. And we all suspect that the dtergent smell is perfect to hide cocaine powder traces. In Russia, of course not. The best laundry services are supposed to be Italian. Perhaps to hide the smell of the 4 cheeses pizza. Mama mia...

(Photo: Dirrty Frank, discovering the world skills everyday)

F*** Me, I'm Famous

A new thing to delight your ego appeared near your favourite shops in Moscow. Forget about the caricaturists from Arbat street, portraying you with a big noise and proeminent eyebrows. Now, with a simple photo, you can become your fantasy and believe you're somebody else. Would like to chose to be a princess, a pirate, a spy or a Hollywood star...?

It's up to you to satisfy your dreams and put it on your flat's wall for the pleasure of your family and friends. Spooky.

(Photo: Dirrty Frank, who is thinking to be a porn star on a horse)

Moment of Truth

Veteran Airlines

Aeroflot is the only airlines company in the world, having some 50+ in their crew. Pretty surprising...not really actually. When you see the difficulty for some people to find a job in modern Russia (the transition, 20 years ago, was quite harsh for some of them), when you understand the difficulty to accomplish yourself in a very young-oriented market and, for the elders, when you see the level of retirement helps, you'll get it.

Therefore, it's not surprising to see people, reaching their 60s, but delivering pizza or sushi menus at your home, selling some telecommunication SIM cards in the streets, cleaning the floor in the malls, making security guards for shops (all of them need one - Russian law) and so on.

We always talk about the great future of Russia, let's not forget about those who built its present.

(Photos: Dirrty Frank, past-present-future)

La Dernière Séance

Il n'y a pas si longtemps, il faisait un temps pourri à Moscou (original) et je m'etais décidé a aller au cinéma pour aller voir n'importe quel film bidon même en langue Russe. Bref, mes intentions étaient bonnes et on décidait d'aller voir le navet d'Angelina, Salt. A priori le seul film à l'affiche où je risque de comprendre 10% de ce qui se passe.

Arrivé au complexe, nous apprenons que seul la salle VIP diffuse ce film. Pas de problème, la salle est plus petite, plus intime, plus de places pour les jambes...bref plus de tout. Le prix aussi est assez incroyable: 2500 RUR/personne - ce qui fait à peu près 65 euros par tête de pipe. On a décidé de laisser Angelina là où elle se trouvait.

Putain, Moscow, c'est vraiment l'arnaque.

(Photo: Dirrty Frank, en tête d'affiche)